Circuit closer for railroad-crossing signals



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Patented Oct. 6, 1925-.

UNITED STATES GEORGE M. IBRANT, OF HAMILTON, ILLINOIS.

CIRCUIT CLOSER FOR RAILROAD-CROSSING SIGNALS.

Application led October 12, 1922. Serial No. 594,057.

T0 all whom it may (2o/noem:

Be it known that I, GEORGE M. BRANT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hamilton, in the county of Hancock and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Circuit Closers for Railroad-Lrossing Signals; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertainsv to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improved circuit closer for `use in connection with a railroad crossing signal and one object of the invention is to provide a circuit closer which may be connected with one of the rails and set in; operation by vibration caused when a train is moving along the track and approaching the crossing. It is well known that when a train is moving along a track, the rails will be caused to vibrate for some time before the trainreaches a given crossing and it is desired to make use of this vi bration in order to cause closing of a circuit and thereby cause a bell, light or any other electrically operated signal to be ener" gized andv thus attract attention.

Another object of the invention is to so construct this device that it may be clamped firmly against theweb portion of one of the rails where it will be out of the way and not be liable to damage.

Another object of'the invention is to so construct this device that the stationary contact of the circuit closer may be positioned at a vdesired distance from the moving contact, thereby permitting energizing of the signal to be controlled and the signal caused to be energized at the proper time and caused to cease operation at the proper time.

Another object of the invention is toprovide an improved meansY for mounting the vibrating or movable contact, this movable contact being carried by springs which extend longitudinally of a tubular carrier and provided at their outer ends with improved means for mounting them.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the mounting means for the outer end portions of the springs that the tension of the springs may be controlled.

Another object of the invention is to so constructthis circuit closer that caps which close the end portions of the tubular body may serve to prevent bridging bars which carry the spring-engaging elements from having movement out of engagement with the end portions of the tubular body.

Another object of the invention is to pr.ovide a circuit closer of the character `described which will be simple iny construction and easy to assemble and to further provide a circuit closer which will not be liable to readily get out of order.

This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view showing the improved circuit closer in top plan.

Figure 2 is a longitudinalsectional view through the circuit closer.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional vieu7 taken along the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 4 4 of Fig. 2. Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the' line 5 5 of Fig. 2, to show the means tor mounting the outer portion of one spring.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6 6 of Fig. 2 to show the manner of mounting the outer end of the second spring. f

Figure 7 is a view showing the circuit closer applied to a rail.

This improved circuitcloser is for use in connection with one of the rails R of a railroad track and is provided with a tubular body l which may be formed from a length of metal pipe having its end portions externally threaded to permit caps 2. to be readily put in place'and removed. This tubular body is to be clamped to the web of the rail R by means of one'or more clamps as shown at C in Fig. 7 From an inspection of this figure, it willbe readily seen that when the device is in place, it' will be firmly clamped to the web of the rail and therefore when the rail is vibrated by a train passing over the track, the circuit closer will be vibrated with the rail and the device caused to operate as will be herein. after brought out.

The tubular body l is provided intermediate its length with an opening 3 to receive a block 4 of hard rubber or any other .suitable insulating material. The outer end portion of this block is reduced from opposite sides as shown in Fig. 4 thus providing a neck having liat sides. The flat sided neck passes through a'slotfformed in the head of the bracket 5 fand therefore this bracket which is carried by the tubular body 1 will llO serve to preventmovement oiv the insulating block l out of the openingy 2in thetubular body. A contact pin 6 Which may be termed a relatively stationary Contact passesthrough, an internally threaded sleeve 7 which passes through the blockt.` andv this threaded. ste-m or contact 6 carries a locking nut 8 so that When the stem has been. adjusted; to.` the proper position by turning through the medium oft the head 9 at its outer end, the locl-` ing nut may be brought intoy engagement with the outer end. oliy the block 4L and thus serve to securely lock the stem inthe desired position. This locking nut may. also serve as means for securing. a conductor Wire 10 forming part ot theV circuitl of' any type of electrically operated crossing signal desired. The,- second vvire: 11 of the signal may be connected with the-tubular body 1 at anyl suitable point. In: the present illustration, this Wire 11 has been shown connected with one of the 'fasteners 12 which serve to secure the bracket 5 to the tubular body.

The movable contact Which is to be brought into operative engagement with the inner end of the contact 6 consists ot a metalcontact 13 mounted intermediate the length of the spring 11i: which extends longitudinally of the tubular body 1,. One end of the spring is connected with the eyeil of the pin or stem 16 which carries a` bridging bar 17 and is provided at its outer end with a head 18 so that the stemor pin 16 Will be prevented from moving out of engagementv With the bridging bar 17. The other end of thespring isconnected With-a tongue 19 provided atitsl outer end With a side arm or head30 through which. passes afv threaded stemv or bolt 21, This bolt: 21 passes, through a bridging bar 22l and; carries a securing nut 23. It will thus be seen that when the spring is stretched longitudinally of the tubular body and the bridging. bars placed to extend` transversely of the body, Withgtheir end portions fitting into the notches orseats 24;, the securing nut 23` may. be` turnedf to imparty longitudinal movement to the bolt 2l and thus permit the springs to beibrought to the desired tension.

When this device is in use, it Will be connected with the web of one of the rails and as the train moves along the track, the vibration caused by the moving train will causethe movable contact 13 to be vibrated. As'the contacts 13 and springs 14C vibrate, the contacts will move into and out of engagement.` With the inner end ofi' the stationaryy contact pin 6 thuscausing the circuit through the signal to be alternately closed and opened. Therefore, the bell, light or other signalivvill be yproperly operated to give Warning. It desired, a cap may be provided tofenclose the elements positioned externally of the body 1. Thiscap will be put in place as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1 and Will preferably be hingedly mounted and connected vvithl the outerl ends thereof andv engaged With the end portions of said? tube,

and means for closing the ends ofiy the tube and retainingsai'd'` anchoring-means .in place.- 2. A circuit closer comprising av tube, ai

stationaryy contact projected into'. the tube-'- intermedia-te its length, a movable:` contact positioned in theltube: and having supports ing springs extending longitudinally:ofthe tube towards the endsthereoff, cross: barsl extending transverselyv ot the'ftube. andv have` ing theirendsy seatedi in, recessesformed in.

theends o'f'said. tube, meansfconnectingf the f outer endsy of saidI springs With) said cross bars, and" caps for the ends -ofisaidtube holding said cross bars ink said; recesses.

3. A circuit; closer; comprising ai tube, a stationary contact projected: into. they tube intermediate itsy length,I aI movable: contact positioned: in the tube, supportingsprings for said movable contact extending therefrom towards the ends of' the tube, cross bars extendingtransverselyof the tube and having their ends seatedvin recesses formed in said tube, andJv stems connected Withy the outer end portions of? saidi spr-ings and extending through said cross bars, 'one'- being provided with a` securing nut engagingf its cross bar.

4. A circuit closer comprising af tube,` a stationary contact projected into the tube intermediate its.V length, a movable contact positioned in the tube, supporting^- springs for said movable contact extendingvtherefrom tovvardsthe endsof'the'tube, cross bars extendingtransverse-ly of the: tube and hav-.

ingtheir endsseated in recessesformed in said tube, andi means connecting the: outer ends of' saidV springs with saidcross: bar s, one of said means being adjustablefor placingfthe springs under desired tension:

5. A circuit closer comprising'a stationary contact, an elastic member carryinginter` mediate of its ends a contact located so as to engage said stationary contact When said elastic member vibrates, a supporting member on Which said stationary contactf is mounted and to Which, the ends offsaidelas-y tic member aresecured, and means for adjusting said stationary contact towards and avva-y trom the normal position of: sai'dother contact. f'

6. A circuit closer comprising ak tube, a

movable contact positioned in the tube and having supporting springs extending longiing radially of the tube, and a Contact adtudinaily of the tube, anchoring means for justable through said sleeve and projecting said springsv connected with the outer ends into the tube for engagement with said mov- 1o thereof and engaged With the end portions able C0I1taCt 5 of said tube, means for closing the ends of ID eStlIlOIly WhBIGO I have hereunto afsaid tube and retaining said anchoring fixed my Signaturemeans in place, an insulating sleeve extend- GEORGE M. BRANT. 

